LUKE ARUNDEL: The practice can put people at risk of pain, infection, inflammation and blindness. It's these risks from a purely cosmetic procedure that's led to it being banned in some states of America and other overseas countries.

LUCY CARTER: However last week, the New South Wales Government effectively did the opposite and regulated eyeball tattooing in the state.

WALT SECORD: Absolutely ridiculous, silly move and they didn't think it through. And on Friday afternoon I sought advice from doctors. They were horrified.

And in fact, I've actually had feedback today from tattooists saying that this is in fact a bridge too far for them.

LUCY CARTER: PM contacted five tattoo parlours in Sydney - none offered eyeball tattooing and all five said they'd never had anyone ask for it.

Walt Secord says it's a niche practice, but one that is happening in Australia.

WALT SECORD: Now it's a very, very, very, very small section of the community, but it's absolutely silly to want to regulate and legalise such a practice. It's a very fringe thing, but by doing this the Government is actually saying it's okay.

LUCY CARTER: However the New South Wales Health Minister Jillian Skinner says that's not what including it in a health amendment was about.

In a statement she says:

JILLIAN SKINNER STATEMENT (voiceover): Eyeball tattooing has not been subject to any specific regulatory oversight in New South Wales and therefore it has been legal to carry out eyeball tattooing in New South Wales but with no appropriate regulatory framework.

Eyeball tattooing involves much the same risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses as other forms of tattooing, which is why we moved to tighten the regulations.

LUCY CARTER: Jillian Skinner says the Government is still investigating the practice, and may move to ban it outright in the future.